U.S. Senate Republican candidate Ken Buck, left, visited a fundraising birthday party celebration for Democrat Andrew Romanoff, center, on Thursday, Aug. 26, 2010. Romanoff is attempting to pay off campaign debt incurred from a run at the U.S. Senate. (Cyrus McCrimmon, The Denver Post)

GOP Senate candidate Ken Buck had never been among so many lefties. And many of them were … quite hostile.

Buck decided to pay former Democratic primary Senate candidate Andrew Romanoff a birthday visit — and help retire some of his $130,000 in campaign debt.

Romanoff was gracious, shaking Ken’s hand and smiling, quietly saying he liked Ken and appreciates all the contributions he can get.

His people, however, were a different story.

At one point, a group of women encircled Buck and pressed him on his abortion views — he is pro-life, even in the case of rape and incest. Another group started chanting “Get Buck Out! Get Buck Out!”

Joey Bunch has been a reporter for 28 years, including the last 12 at The Denver Post. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry.